If you're looking to shave strokes off your scorecard fast, the quickest way might be right under your nose—on the greens. According to the USGA, the average golfer makes around 40 putts per round, which is just over two putts per hole. That means if you can consistently two-putt every hole, you're already gaining two strokes on the competition.

But here's the reality check: many of us assume we should sink everything inside 10 feet. Data from ShotScope and Arccos tells a different story, especially when there's a significant break involved. When a putt curves, amateur make rates drop by 10 to 20 percent, largely because we struggle to read enough break. Enter Gary Player, the legendary golfer with a simple fix that could transform your putting game.

Player noticed a common pattern: most amateurs miss breaking putts on the same side of the hole. On the Vanity Index Podcast, he shared his insight. "90% of putts that are right-to-left putts are missed to the right," he said. "I was watching a tournament the other day, and every time they had a left-to-right putt, most of the time they missed it to the right. I don't know if it's something to do with the eyes, but whenever you have a left-to-right putt, aim more left."

Player's advice doesn't stop there. He recommends a subtle change in technique: "What I do whenever I have a left-to-right putt is actually hook it a little bit. Watch the great putters—Bobby Locke, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus. They very seldom miss a left-to-right putt on the right. They get the blade square at impact. If anything, close your clubface a bit on impact for a left-to-right putt."

But the most critical tip? "Keep your head dead still. Put a little black mark on the back of your ball, and watch it as you putt." This simple focus can steady your stroke and help you read the break more accurately. So next time you're facing a tricky breaker, aim a little more left, square that clubface, and keep your head still—you might just start draining more putts than ever.